Climate Connection: Planning Home Weatherization
Weatherizing your home includes sealing air leaks, calking, weather stripping, adding insulation, controlling ventilation and moisture control as your building envelope is tightened, installing programmable thermostats, energy-efficient entry doors and windows, and adding exterior building skirts around trailers. You can save money on heating your home by weatherizing, whether you heat with electricity, fuel oil, propane, or wood.
There is lots of federal money coming that will help us weatherize our homes, but not all of it is available now. In the meantime, now is the time to plan what you can do over the next 10 years of federal subsidy. The place to start is a home energy assessment, and you can do a lot yourself. The Department of Energy has a do-it-yourself guide available at https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/home-energy-assessments. You won’t be able to do infra-red assessment of where you have inadequate insulation or perform blower door tests that a professional energy rater or auditor can do. If you can get an energy audit with a written report identifying issues and improvements, you can get a tax credit of 30% of the cost up to $150. But Sitka doesn’t have a certified energy auditor yet.
Federal tax credits are available now for 2023, but are limited to $1,200 a year for home energy audits and building envelope components. By planning what you want to do over the next 10 years of annual tax credits, you can get the federal subsidies year after year. For example, you might buy insulation one year with a tax credit of 30% of cost. The next year, you might replace one or two exterior doors with a tax credit of 30% of cost up to $250/door. You could follow with replacing energy-efficient windows including skylights with a tax credit of 30% of cost up to $600. If you need more windows replaced, you can do this over several years. If you need to upgrade your electric panel or circuits in anticipation of an energy saving heat pump, electric vehicle, or induction stove, you can get these with a tax credit of 30% of cost up to $600.
If you qualify for low and moderate income rebates at the point of purchase from the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), you’ll have to wait until 2024. AHFC is waiting for federal guidance from the Department of Energy before designing its distribution of monies for weatherization and home energy efficiency. Low income eligibility has an income cap of 80% of area median income and has rebates of up to $1,600/year for weatherization. In Sitka, area median income in 2022 was $102,200/year for a family of 4. Moderate income eligibility has an income cap of 80-150% area median income, with a rebate benefit of half that of low income households.
Come to the free Electrification Expo at Centennial Hall on March 18, 11-2 p.m. to learn more details. You can even schedule an energy audit with an Anchorage professional coming to the Expo.
--Kay Kreiss, Transition Sitka
SCT Calls for
‘Amelie’ Movers,
Painters, Builders
GSAC Sitka Community Theater is calling for volunteers Friday and Sunday to help bring the set of “Amelie” toward the finish line, organizers said.
On Friday, volunteers are needed from 1 to 5 p.m. to paint and build scenery at Yaw Art Center, in back of Odess Theater on the SFAC campus.
From 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, volunteers are needed for moving, building and painting scenery at the Performing Arts Center. Enter through the Performer Entrance, in back of Sitka High School.
From 5 to 7 p.m. Monday painters are needed at the PAC.
Bring painting clothes and work gloves if you have them, organizers said. Donuts and coffee will be available. Those with questions may call 907-738-0602.
Tickets on Sale for
Musical ‘Amelie’
Tickets are now on sale for the GSAC Sitka Community Theater production of “Amelie,” which runs 7 p.m. March 24 and 25, and 2 p.m. March 27 at the Performing Arts Center.
In this whimsical, charming Broadway musical, Amélie is an extraordinary young woman who lives quietly in the world but loudly in her mind, organizers said. She covertly improvises small but surprising acts of kindness that bring joy and mayhem. But when a chance at love comes her way, Amélie realizes that to find happiness she’ll have to risk everything and say what’s in her heart. The show invites audience members to be inspired by this imaginative dreamer who finds her voice, discovers the power of connection, and sees possibility around every corner.
The show contains adult content, including sexual references, adult subjects and a reference to suicide. Those with questions can call 907-738-0602.
Ticket prices are $20 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors, at Old Harbor Books and online at fineartscamp.org.
L’uknax.adi Clan
Meeting Sunday
L’uknax.ádi Clan meeting/practice will be 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 12, at the Kayaashka.Hít.
The Zoom info will be posted on the Facebook page for those clan members.who are out of town.
For more information contact Chuck Miller at (907) 738-4025 or Lillian Young (907) 752-0867.
Harp Sing Set
All are invited to learn to sing four-part a capella harmony in the Sacred Harp (shape note) tradition 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at the Pioneers Home chapel.
Beginners and listeners are welcome. Singing is from the red Denson and Christmas books. Loaner books are available. Masks are optional. For information call Sara at 747-2915.
Special Service
At St. Peter’s
St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church will hold a service at 10 a.m. on March 12, in person only.
The church reminds attendees to set their clocks ahead one hour this weekend for daylight-saving time.
For more information, send an email to stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com or call (907) 747-3977 and leave a message for a call back.
The church is located at 611 Lincoln Street, and is open every day to stop in for a time of quiet, prayer, and rest.
SEREMS Board
Meets April 3
The Southeast Region Emergency Medical Services Council Inc., located in Sitka, full board of directors will meet virtually 6:30 p.m. April 3.
The agenda includes recommendations for changes to the company bylaws. To participate in the meeting, contact director@serems.org
Cultural Tourism
Conference in April
The Heritage and Cultural Tourism Conference, hosted by Sitka Tribe of Alaska, will be held April 11-13.
The conference serves as a bridge between the travel and tourism industry and local heritage. It includes learning, networking, and business building with tourism and cultural professionals from across the United States.
Full registration cost is $425. Day tickets are available for $175 a day. To register, or for more information, go to https://sitkatribalenterprises.com/index.php/heritage-cultural-tourism-conference/
Presentations will be given by American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, Alaska Travel Industry Association, U.S. Cultural and Heritage Marketing Council, Office of Indian Economic Development and others.
Topics will include: ‘‘Interpreting Our Stories and Sharing Complicated History’’; ‘‘How Partnering with Corporations is Changing the Tourism Landscape’’; ‘‘Reshaping Your Company Culture to Attract and Retain Employees’’; ‘‘Social Media Marketing and Online Marketing for Busy Entrepreneurs’’; ‘‘Funding Sources and Grant Writing’’; and ‘‘CulturalHost Certification and Train-the-Trainer Certification.’’
‘Child Find’ Sets
Preschool Screening
Sitka School District provides Child Find Preschool Screenings for children ages 3-5 at the Baranof Elementary School. An appointment is required for the Friday, March 24, screening. For information, or to schedule an appointment, parents can call (907) 966-1506.
The Child Find program is provided without charge to families who live within school district boundaries.
The program identifies children who are having difficulty in their development, and provides special education services to them, when appropriate.
Parents may have concerns about their child’s development in the areas of hearing, vision, speech/language skills, motor skills, thinking skills or emotional or social skills. A screening is a series of short tests and professional observations in various developmental areas.
Screenings will be held at least once per quarter at Baranof Elementary School, and those dates will be publicized. Additional appointments at other times or locations may be scheduled as needed.
This Week in Girls on the Run
By Sitkans Against Family Violence
During the first week of Girls on the Run, participants have been focusing on “Choosing to be a GOTR.” Teams talk about how each of us has the ability, every day, to choose to respect ourselves and others with our words and actions. Some days we might need support from others to make that choice, and it is okay to ask for help! Here’s what participants have to say about what a Girl on the Run chooses to do:
“Think good about yourself and others.”
“Be thankful for my school and friends.”
“Never give up, and encourage other people to try something new.”
Throughout this season, GOTR will provide the Sitka community with updates from the program. We also hope to give mentors and parents an opportunity to pass on skills from GOTR to the youth in your life! Here are some conversation starters for talking with kids about positive self-talk (adapted from the GOTR Grown-up Guide).
Do we sometimes do things without thinking about them? What is something that you do every day without thinking about it?
Why is it important for us to think about why we do the things we do instead of just doing them?
We all have positive thoughts sometimes and negative thoughts sometimes. How do you feel when there are negative thoughts in your head? Positive thoughts?
Girls on the Run is a national empowerment-based program for girls in 3rd-5th grade, currently in its 14th season at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School! GOTR is more than an after-school activity; it is a program designed to bring girls together with strength and resilience and prepare them for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. Through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games, GOTR prepares girls for a final celebratory 5K Fun Run on May 13 while teaching life skills and unleashing confidence!
Community members are welcome to join in the 5K or be cheerleaders along the course! Girls on the Run is brought to you in Sitka by the Pathways Coalition. Call (907) 747-3493 for more information.
